Cleaning and scrubbing machine



Oct. 24, 1933. c. FOLDEfSSY CLEANING AND SCRUBBING MACHINE Original Filed May 31. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @[aman 51 616 Oct 24, 1933. c. FOLDESSY examine AND SCRUBBING mourns Original Filed May 31, 1930 4 Sheds-Sheet 2 I VE UH (blem'an Eldesqy Oct. 24, 1933.- c o ss 1,932,208

CLEARING AND SCRUBBING MACHINE Original Filed May 31,' 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CZ/emarz la /dag Oct. 24, 1933. c. FOLDESSY CLEANING AND SCRUBBING MACHINE Original Filed May 51. 1930 4 Shests-Sheet 4 V DEL Coleman fZ/Jesg &;

Patented Got. 24, 1933 NITED STATES PATENT OF ICE Application May 31, 1930, Serial No. 458,177 Renewed March 23, 1933 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved machine adapted to scrub and clean carpets, rugs and articles of a similar character.

Heretofore, in machines of this kind, the

scrubbing brushes thereof, during the scrubbing and cleaning operations rotated in one direction,

' usually against the travel of the carpet and the like. The rotation of the brushes in only one direction during the cleaning and scrubbing l0 operation is objectional, in that the ends, of the carpet or article of like character are not completely scrubbed by the action of the brushes, thus necessitating a subsequent operation for thoroughly cleaning the ends of the article.' This additional operation involves time and manual efiort, which greatly increases the cost of cleaning articles such as carpets, rugs, and the like. Furthermore, the scrubbing and cleaning brushes used in the conventional machine of this kind could not be easily and readily adjusted while the machine is in operation.

The machine of the present invention is designed to eifectively overcome these and other objections.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a scrubbing and cleaning machine having scrubbing brushes intermittently reversed for changing the direction of travel thereof for scrubbing the entire face and straightening out the ends of the article cleaned in the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for easily and readily adjusting the brushes of a scrubbing and cleaning machine while the same is in operation for increasing and decreasing the pressure applied to the article being scrubbed and cleaned, and also to compensate for the wearing of the brushes.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in. the specification and the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described.

0n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a scrubbing and cleaning machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section taken substantially on the line V-V of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a. fragmentary vertical sectional View drawn to an enlarged scale of the mechanism for adjusting the scrubbing and cleaning brushes of the machine.

As shown onthe drawings:

The reference character 10 designates a frame suitably supported on legs 11 having bases 12. I

The legs 11 may be four in number, and each of the front opposed and rear opposed legs are equidistantly spaced and held in position by a tubular member 13, rods 14 and the nuts 15 (Figure The frame has journalled thereon adjacent each of its ends shafts 17 and 18 which carry rollers 19 and 20 arranged to receive an endless conveyor belt 21 about a peripheral portion thereof. The upper surface of the belt is held in a horizontal position by an apron 23 suitably supported by a pair of spaced transverse channels 24 and angles 25 which are secured to a leg of an angular bracket 26 that is attached to opposed side portions of the frame 10.

A belt tensioning device designated by the character 28 is carried by a downwardly extending bracket 29 secured to a bottom portion of the frame 10. A lever arm 30 having one end pivotally secured to the bracket and its other end apertured for receiving a shaft 31 carrying a transverse roller 32 which has a peripheral portion thereof in contact with the under-surface of the belt-21. A suitable spring 33 having one of its ends disposed about an intermediate portion of the lever 30 and its other end connected to a portion of the bottom of the frame, forces the roller 32 in contact with the endless conveyor belt 21, for retaining the latter at a desirable tension.

Mounted adjacent each of the top end portions of the frame 10 is an angular bracket 36 having a U-shaped portion provided with ribbed sections 37-38 which fit into a groove of a slidable hearing block member 39. Each of the bearing blocks is provided with an aperture 40 arranged 109 to receive a bushing 41 which is disposed about a portion of a transverse roller shaft 42. The shaft 42 supports transverse rollers 4343 that extend across the width of the endless conveyor belt.

Secured to a top portion of each of the brackets 36 is a U-shaped cap 46 having apertured lugs 47 and 48 for receiving threaded portions of an adjusting rod 49. Attached to top end portion of each of the threaded adjusting rods and having its hub portion resting upon the top of the lug 48 is a hand wheel 50, which is provided with a handle 51 for manually rotating the hand wheel for raising or lowering the adjusting rod. The lower end of the adjusting rod is slidably disposed in a hub portion 53 integral with the bearing block 39. A pin 55 extends through the adjustable rod 49 and projects into an elongated opening 52 of the hub 53 for maintaining the lower end of the rod in the bearing block. Located between the hub 47 of the shaft and the hub 53 of the bearing block is a spring 56 which is disposed about the adjusting rod 49. The spring 56 permits the bearing block and the roller attached thereto to upwardly move in case sudden or excess pressure is upwardly exerted by an article that passes underneath the roller.

A ribbed bracket 57 is secured to an intermediate portion on each side of the frame 10. The bracket 57 on the left side of the frame 10 (Figure 4) is provided with an aperture 58 for receiving a flanged bearing member 59, which supports a stub shaft 60 that extends through the bearing and projects beyond the left side of the machine. A collar 61 secured on the inner end portion of the stub shaft by a tapered pin 62 prevents outward lateral movement of the shaft.

A thrust washer 63 is positioned about the shaft 60 between the outer face of the bearing 59 and the inner portion of the hub of a drive gear 64 keyedly secured on the shaft 60. Each of the brackets 57 is provided with two journalled apertures for receiving a plurality of stub shafts 65, 66, 67 and 68 which pivotally carry a plurality of links 69, 70, 71 and 72, respectively. Secured on the extending end portion of the stub shaft 65 and 66 are a pair of idler gears '73 and 74 respectively that mesh with the drive gear 64.

The idler gears are held from lateral movement on the shafts 65-66 by collars 75, and similar collars 75' prevent lateral movement of the links 71 and 72 on the stub shafts 67 and 68 located on the opposite sides of the frame 10. The other ends of the links are provided with apertured hub portions for receiving a plurality of respective stub shafts 76 and 77 and 78 and 79. The opposed stub shafts 76 and 78 carry a-transverse rotatable each of the hubs of the links, as best illustrated in Figure 6, is a lifter ring 85 having an apertured boss 86 for receiving a pin 87 which secures the boss into the upper bifurcated end of an adjusting rod 88.

A collar 89 secured on each end of the shafts 78 and 79 prevents outward movement of the lifter ring 85. A worm gearing housing 89' having a plurality of bearing portions 90, 91 and 92 acting as a bearing and guide for each of the adjustable rods 88 is secured to the sides of the frame 10. The lower end of the adjusting rod 88 is provided with a threaded portion 93 that meshes with a threaded apertured portion of a worm gear 94 disposed thereabout. Each of the worm gears 94 is disposed in an apertured portion of the housing 89' respectively between the hub portions 91 and 92 in each of the housings.

A bracket 95 (Figure 2) bolted to a portion of the frame adjacent the side of each of the hous 'Also the raising or lowering of the brushes comings 89' is provided with a downwardly extend ing member 96 having a journal portion for re-' ceiving a shaft 97. Disposed about a portion of shaft 97 adjacent the inside portion of the downwardly extending member 96 of the bracket is a worm 98 which meshes with the worm gear 94. One end of each of the shafts 97 projects beyond the end of the bracket 95 for receiving a suitable crank (not shown). The manual rotation of the cranks through the interconnected worm drive mechanism, the adjustable rod and the lifting ring will raise or lower the brushes and 81 to increase or decrease the pressure of the brushes applied to an article located on the conveyor.

pensates for any wear of the brushes.

The conveyor roller shaft 18 has one end projecting beyond the side of the frame 10 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5, for receiving a gear 99, which is disposed adjacent one end of the conveyor roller 20. Journalled on the frame 10 and extending parallel to the conveyor roller shaft 18 is a transverse shaft 100. which carries a feed roller 101 (Figure 3). Disposed on a portion of the shaft adjacent one side of the frame 10 is a gear 102 that meshes with the gear 99. Also keyed on the shaft 18 adjacent the outer end portion of the gear 99 is a pulley 103, which may be connected by a belt to any suitable source of power for rotating the pulley to operate the conveyor driving mechanism.

A motor 104 supported by a bracket 105 connected to theleft of the frame 10 of the machine, as best illustrated in Figure 4, actuates the scrubbing brushmechanism in such a manner that rotatable direction of the brushes is reversed during the scrubbing and cleaning operation for thoroughly cleaning the entire surface of the carpet or like articles. While a motor is illustrated for reversing the rotatable direction of the scrubbing brushes, it is to be understood that the invention is notto be thus limited, inasmuch as the direction of rotation of the brushes may be reversed by any suitable mechanism, such as a clutch mechanism, driven from a desirable source of power.

A speed reducer 106 mounted on the bracket 105 between the motor 105 and the drive gear 64 connects the gear drive shaft 60 to a shaft 107 of the motor 104 for reducing the brushes 80 and 81.

The motor 104 is connected by a conductor cable 108 to a conventional type of reversing switch box 109 secured to the frame 10 (Figure 2). The switch box 109 is provided with two pairs of 13 contacts 110 and 111 for engaging respectively a pair of insulated contacts mounted on the lower portion of a switch lever 112. The upper end of the lever 112 is apertured for receiving a rod 113 (Figures 2, 3 and 5). The rod 113 is jour- 185 nailed on the top of the frame 10 near the sides thereof and extends transversely across the top of the conveyor belt adjacent the roller 43'.

Secured on the rod 113 is a plurality of spaced shoes 114. Each of the shoes 114 is provided with 140 a foot portion extending downwardly adjacent the top surface of the conveyor belt for engagement with the carpets or other similiar articles being cleaned so as to be pivotally actuated for operating the switch lever 112, so that the con- 11o tacts thereof will engage the contacts 111 of the switch box for reversing the motor 104 to rotate the scrubbing brushes 80 and 81 in a clockwise direction.

A coil spring 114' positioned above an end por- 15C speed of the tion of the rod 113 adjacent the upper end of theswitch lever 112 has an end portion disposed aboutthe switch lever for maintaining the lever in its normal position, as best illustrated in Figure 5. When the switch lever 112 is in its normal position, the contacts thereof are in engagement with the contacts 110 on the reversing switch box 109 for actuating the motor 104 to rotate the scrubbing brushes in a counterclockwise direction.

Secured 'to a top portion of each of the ribbed brackets 57 is a transverse plate 115 supported by a plurality of transverse adjacent angular members 116 and 117.. Hingedly secured to the plate 115 in abutment with each transverseedge thereof is a guard plate 118 having an arcuate portion disposed adjacent the brushes and 81 for enclosing the same. The guard plates 118 are each provided with a pair of side plates 119 and 120 respectively, each of which have apertured lower portions for receiving a rod 122 and a rod 123 respectively. The rods project beyond each side of the plate to provide a handle for the operator so that the guards maybe pivotally moved upwardly to permit access to the brushes.

A bracket 125 having a semi-circular aperture in the top portion thereof for receiving and supporting the rods 122 and 123 for maintaining the guard members 118 in position, is mounted on the frame 10 adjacent inside base portion of each of the brackets 36.

One of the brackets 125 located on the left end of the machine (Figure 3) is provided with an aperture at its lower portion for receiving a transversely extending pipe 126.

Disposed above the conveyor adjacent the base of each of the brackets 5'7 is a pair of transversely extending pipes 128 and-129. The pipe 126 is connected by a pipe line 130 to the branch of a T 131, and the pipe 129 is connected by pipe line 134 to an opening in the T 131. The remaining branch opening of the T 131 is connected by a pipe line 133 to one opening of a three-way valve 135. The pipe 128 is connected by a pipe line 136 to another opening in the valve 135. The remaining branch opening of the three-way valve 135 is connected by a pipe line 143 to a source of cleaning solution which may be soapy water or any suitable cleaning fluid.

A lever handle 145 connected to the stem of the valve 135 permits the cleaning solution to flow from the supply line 143 through the inter-com nected pipe line 136 to either the pipe'123 or through the pipes 126 and 129. Each of the pipes serves to deliver the cleaning solution to the carpet or other article as the same is moved on the conveyor underneath the scrubbing brushes.

Supported in an apertured portion one of the brackets 125 which are mounted adjacent the right end of the machine (Figure 3) is'a trans-= verse pipe 146 that is positioned above the conveyor. The pipe 146 is connected by a pipe line 147 to a source of water supply (not shown), and the pipe 146 serves to deliver the water from the water supply line to the carpet, mg or other article of a similar character located on the conveyor for washing the cleaning solution and dirty substance from the articles after the scrubbing operation.

The operation of this scrubbing and cleaning machine is briefly as follows:

The starting of a conventional drive mechanism (not shown) actuates a belt for rotating the pulley 103, which pulley actuates the conveyor drive mechanism for moving the conveyor belt to the right as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. The starting of the motor 104 actuates the brush mechanism for normally rotating the scrubbing brushes 80 and 81 in a counterclockwise direction.

One end of thecarpet or other article to be cleaned is inserted into the left end of the machine where it is frictionally gripped between the roller 43 and the conveyor belt 21. It is to be noted that the roller 43 is adjustable for frictionally engaging the carpet, rug and article of a similar character at any desirable pressure. Y

The movement of the conveyor to the right carries the article to be cleaned forward so that it will pass underneath the rotatable scrubbing brushes 80 and 81, which brushes have been adjusted to contact with the article on the conveyor. The proper manipulation of the lever 145 .will open the three-way valve 135 so that the cleaning solution will flow from the supply line 143 into the pipes 126 and 129 and thence onto the carpet, rug or article of a similar character, so that they are thoroughly scrubbed by the brushes as they are moved forward on the conveyor.

The amount of cleaning solution delivered to the article being scrubbed in the machine can be reduced if so desired, by manipulating the hand lever 145 for actuating the valve 135 in the opposite direction to shut off the flow of cleaning solution to the pipes 126 and 129 and allowing the cleaning solution to fiow through the pipe 128 onto the article.

It is to be observed that an adjusting mechanism is provided whereby the manual manipulation of a crank in the proper direction will rotate the shaft 97 and the gear drive mechanism for actuating the lifter ring for raising or lowering the brushes for decreasing or increasing the scrubbing pressure of the brushes on the carpet so that thescrubbing action may be varied as found desirable.

When the front portion of the carpet has traveled past the scrubbing brush 81, the operator of the machine manipulates the conventional type pipe line valve (not shown) for permitting water to flow from a suitable supply line 147 to the pipe 146 for delivering clean water on the carpet to wash off the cleaning solution. The carpet is then carried by the conveyor underneath a gripping roller 101 which aids in feeding the carpet forward.

The thicker portion of the carpet after traveling past the roller 101 engages the shoes 114 pivotally moving the shoes for pivotally actuating switch lever 112, so that, the contact thereof will be in engagement with the contact 111 on the reversing switch box 109. Thereby, reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 104 for rotating the scrubbing brushes 80 and 81 in a clockwise direction, so that the opposite end of the carpet and the fringe thereof passing by the scrubbing brushes 80 and 81 will be completely scrubbed and straightened out.

The carpet, after it has passed by the shoes 114, is permitted to travel underneath the roller 43' which engages and squeezes the carpet to remove the liquid therefrom. The carpet is then removed from the machine and other articles of a similar character may be inserted into the machine for cleaning and scrubbing the same.

It is to be noted that the roller 43' is providedwith adjusting mechanism operated by the hand wheel 50 for increasing or decreasing the pressure ,to compensate for the different thicknesses of carpet or like articles which may be scrubbed and cleaned in the machine.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a machine for enabling carpets, rugs, and articles of similar character to pass a plurality of scrubbing brushes, which brushes are arranged to be reversed for not only entirely cleaning and scrubbing carpets and like articles, but also to comb and straighten out the fringed ends of the carpets, thereby eliminating objections to the present conventional type of cleaning and scrubbing machine.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A scrubbing and cleaning machine including a plurality of rotatable brushes, means for moving an article to be cleaned past said brushes, and means operable by said article for changing the direction of rotation of said brushes for securing the entire surface of said article.

2. A scrubbing and cleaning machine including a plurality of movable brushes, means for moving an article to be cleaned across said brushes, and automatic means for reversing the movement of the brushes of said machine in response to the movement of the article through the machine.

3. A cleaning and scrubbing machine comprising means for moving an article to be cleaned through the machine, a plurality of rotatable brushes for scrubbing said article, said brushes being rotated in such a direction as to brush the leading margin of said article in the direction in which it is moving, and automatic means for reversing the rotation of said brushes after said leading margin has traveled past said brushes.

4. A cleaning and scrubbing machine comprising means for moving an article to be cleaned through the machine, a plurality of rotatable brushes for scrubbing said article, means engaged by said article as it passes through the machine, and means operable by said second means for causing said brushes to be rotated in one direction when said second means is out of magma engagement with said article and in the opposite direction when in engagement with said article.

5. A cleaning and scrubbing machine comprising means for moving an article to be cleaned through the machine, a plurality oi rotatable brushes for scrubbing said article, a feed roller for engaging the article after it passes said brushes, and means actuated by said article to reverse the direction of rotation of said brushes after said article has been engaged by said roller.

6. A cleaning and scrubbing machine comprising means for moving an article to be cleaned through the machine, a plurality of rotatable brushes for scrubbing said article, a plurality of members disposed in the path of travel of said article and arranged to be raised upon the engagement of the article therewith, and means responsive to the raising of said members for reversing the direction of rotation of said brushes.

7. A cleaning and scrubbing machine comprisingmeans for moving an article to be cleaned through the machine, a' plurality of rotatable brushes for scrubbing said article, a plurality of members disposed in the path of travel of said article and arranged to be raised upon the engagement of the article therewith, electric power means for actuating said brushes, and a reversing switch responsive to the raising of said members for reversing the direction of rotation of said power means.

8. A cleaning and scrubbing machine including a plurality of rotatable brushes, a conveyor arranged to receive and move an article to be cleaned past said brushes, means for actuating said conveyor, a plurality of adjustable rollers for applying pressure on said article, one of said rollers being used for wringing fluid from said article, a fixed feed roller positioned adjacent one of said adjustable rollers for gripping said article, means for delivering a cleaning solution onto said article being moved by the conveyor, means for delivering liquid onto said article for washing. 01? said cleaning solution, reversing means for changing the direction of rotation of said brushes to enable scrubbing the entire surface of the article, and means to control said reversing means including a plurality of pivoted members arranged for engagement by said article as it moves through the machine.

COLEMAN FOLDESSY.

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